SpaceX achieved a significant milestone on Sunday by launching its 10,000th Starlink satellite during a Falcon 9 mission from California. The company deployed 28 satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, bringing the total to 10,006 spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. This comes amid rapid expansion of the broadband network, which now serves over 7 million subscribers worldwide.
On Sunday afternoon, SpaceX conducted two Falcon 9 launches from spaceports in Florida and California, adding 56 satellites to its Starlink constellation. The second mission, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marked the program's passage beyond 10,000 satellites. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell tallied the exact count at 10,006, including demo satellites but excluding dummies from Starship tests.
The network's growth began with prototypes Tintin A and B in 2018. Operational launches started in 2019 with 60 satellites per flight, but larger designs now limit Falcon 9 to 28. As the California rocket lifted off, launch director remarked: “From Tintin to 10,000. Go Starlink, go Falcon, go SpaceX.” The satellites deployed at 160 miles (260 kilometers) altitude and will maneuver to 332 miles (535 kilometers) using plasma engines.
Starlink reached 7 million subscribers in August, mainly for homes and businesses, and is expanding to direct smartphone service. As of Monday, October 20, 8,680 Starlink satellites orbit Earth, with 8,664 functioning and 7,448 operational—comprising up to 70 percent of the roughly 12,500 active satellites globally, per European Space Agency estimates.
Current V2 Mini satellites feature 100-foot (30-meter) solar arrays. The upcoming V3 version will require Starship for launches of about 60 satellites, possibly starting next year. The Florida launch set a reuse record, marking the 31st flight for SpaceX's most-flown booster, which was recovered at sea. SpaceX has completed 132 Falcon 9 missions in 2025, tying last year's total, and anticipates breaking its annual record soon.